A young osprey in New York had a rough introduction to flying after apparently falling from its nest and winding up injured on the ground. Fortunately, the bird had some unexpected backup arrive before its situation could get any worse.
The Nassau County Police Department says officers responded to North Hills last week after receiving a 911 call about the injured young bird. Officers were able to safely secure the osprey before contacting wildlife officials to figure out what to do next.
The bird was eventually handed over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and transported to a rehabilitation facility. There, it’ll receive treatment for its injuries before hopefully getting another chance to spread its wings and return to the wild.
Considering how differently things could have ended for an injured bird stuck outside its nest, this little osprey seems to have landed around exactly the right people.
Officers Help Injured Osprey Get a Second Chance
According to Nassau County Police, officers were called after someone spotted the young osprey in North Hills and realized it needed help. It’s unclear exactly how the bird fell from its nest or the extent of the injuries it suffered.
Ospreys are large birds of prey sometimes nicknamed “fish hawks” because fish make up the overwhelming majority of their diet. They’re particularly well suited to hunting over water, with powerful talons and specialized feet that help them grab slippery prey before carrying it back to a perch or nest.
They’re also a familiar sight around Long Island, where the abundance of bays, harbors, and other waterways provides plenty of habitat and food. Ospreys typically build large nests in elevated locations, including trees, utility structures, and specially constructed nesting platforms.
That’s about as good an ending as you could ask for under the circumstances. The osprey might have failed its first flight lesson, but at least it’ll hopefully get another shot once it’s healed up.
Commenters Are Rooting for the Osprey
Commenters were overwhelmingly happy to see officers take the time to help their feathered patient. Several simply praised the department with variations of “Great job,” while another thanked everyone involved for “working so hard to help this beauty.”
Interestingly, someone in the comments claimed to have been the person who originally dispatched the call. “I gave that call out, glad the osprey is ok,” they wrote, providing a small behind-the-scenes connection to how the rescue reportedly began.
Others described those involved as “heroes” and specifically congratulated the department’s 6th Precinct. There wasn’t much debate happening underneath this particular police post, which is probably a good thing for once.
Now, the osprey’s only job is to recover before returning to where it belongs. Hopefully, its second attempt at leaving the nest involves considerably more flying and a whole lot less police assistance.